Annunciator



(No Model.)

J. P. TIRRELL;

ANNUNCIATORQ No; 376,171. Patented Jan. 10, 1888.

- 61E005 ffa'rralz flag UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE,

JACOB P. TIRRELL, OF soMEavILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC GAS LIGHTING COMPANY, or PORTLAND, MAINE.

ANNUNCl-ATOR.

SPECIFICATION orming part of Letters Patent No; 376,171, dated January 10, 1888. Am lieation filed February 23, 1887. Serial No. 129,103. (No ino'lel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAcoE P. TIRRELL, of Somerville, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Annunciators, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The object of my invention is to produce an annunciator-drop or indicating-instrument of simple construction that is certain and positive in its action; and the invention consists, mainly, in details of construction and arrangement of the drop orindicating device and armature of the elcctro-magnet that controls it.

The controlling velectro-magnet is shown as supported in a horizontal position and having an armature preferably struck up from sheetiron and provided with a shank or stem 'pivoted below and in'the rear of the main portion of the armature, which is also provided with a catch or shoulder, which, when said armature is retracted, supports the drop or indicator proper. The said drop is shown as consisting of a single sheet of thin sheet metal, the main portion of which stands at the front of the magnet and its armature, and is provided with rearwardly-projecting supporting-arms pivoted near the rear end of the armature, so that the drop falls by gravity with an oscillating movement. The drop in falling is arrested by a stop projection connected with the armature in such manner that the weight of the drop acts to retract the armature, and thus detach it from the magnet in case it should stick by residual magnetism.

Figure 1 is a front view of an annunciator containing indicating-instruments embodying this invention, showing two of said instruments in front elevation in different positions; Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof, also showing two instruments in different positions; Fig. 3, a front elevation of the magnet, armature,1and frame of one of the drop-instruments on a larger scale, the drop itself being removed Fig. 4, aplan view of one of the drop-instruments on a larger scale, the upper portion of the drop proper being removed; and Fig. 5, a similar plan view of a modified construction.

The instrument forming the subject of this invention may be used as a part of an annun- .net might be used, as shown in Fig. 5.

ciator, A, comprising a case or frame having a front plate, A, provided with openings or transparent portions A corresponding to the different indicators, which are normally con- ,55 cealed behind the said plate A, but which. when operated, come into view through said openings in the well-known manner.

The indicating-instruments each comprise a frame or base-plate, a, which may be of castiron, adapted to be fastened to the frame-work of the annunciator A in any suitable manner, and each having supported on it an electromagnet, b, the circuit of which includes a battery and is extended to the point or points from which the instrument is to be operated, where itis provided with a normally-open circuit-closer or push-button intended to be momentarily closed in order to operate the'indieating-instrument and to cause the indicator to be displayed.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the magnet b is of usual horseshoe form; but a straight core-mag- The said magnet b is held in a substantially hori- 7 zontal position near theupper part .of the frame or base-plate a, which latter is provided near its lower end with projecting lugs a, in which is pivoted the armature c ofthe said magnet 12. The said armature cis shown as composed of a piece of sheet metalhaving a transverse portion extending through the field of the magnet, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and a downwardly-proiecting portion,c, pivoted in the said lugs a of the base-plate and extending beyond said pivots, as shown at 0 Fig. '2, to constitute a stop to limit the retractive movement of the armature from its magnet by the said portion 0" coming in contact with thebase-plate a.

It will be seen that the weight of the armature is mainly at the front of its pivot, and thus tends to move it away from the poles of the magnet, and no other retractor is required.

When a straight core-magnet is used, as shown in Fig.5, the armature may have inclined portions opposite the poles,which may themselves be inclined, so that the attraction of the magnet tends to move the armature in the same direction as the direct pull of the ICC horseshoe-magnet shown in the other figures.

The armature 0 is provided with a drop-supporting shoulder, c,which,when the armature is retracted, is in position to engage a projection, d, as best shown in Fig. 4, from the drop proper. The said drop or indicator is shown as composed of a sheet ofthin sheet metal having a fiat portion, 0, provided with a target or indicating-mark, c, and a flat portion, 0", below,provided with supporting-arms e, that are pivoted on the frame a at a near the rear of the magnet b, and about in line with the supporting-shoulder c" of the armature, the cooperating supporting projection d of the drop being connected with one of said arms 0. The indicator is preferably also provided with a projection, 0 (see Fig. 1,) above and inclined to the part c, which projection, by its engagement with the annunciator frame, serves asa stop to limit the upward movement of the drop in being restored into engagement with its armature. The three parts 6 e e are shown as inclined at about forty-five degrees to one another, as best seen in Fig. 2, and the drop in falling turns about its pivot e through an angle of about forty-five degrees, thus bringing the part 6, having the indicating-mark 0, into the position opposite the opening A in the indicator-case that was previously occupied by the part 0 having no such mark, this change of position being readily understood from Fig. 2. These parts of the indicator are at the front of the magnet and armature and conceal the same from view through the openings A, and the armature is provided with a projecting finger, c, which may be a pin fastened to it,or may be,as shown, a portion of the metal cut and bent outward, and which serves as a stop to arrest the drop when it falls. The drop engages the said projection c in such position with relation to the armature-pivot that it acts to move the armature away from the magnet, and thus constitutes a detacher to break the armature away from the magnet in case it sticks by residual magnetism, thus leaving the armature ready to engage the drop when restored by anysuitable or usual devices.

The under side of the projecting shoulder a of the armature is inclined, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, so that the projection d will move it toward the poles of the magnet when the drop is restored, and as the said projection passes while being very sensitive to the action of the magnet, also holds the drop with great se' curity, so that the latter is not likely to be released by any jar or concussion upon the apparatus, the effect of such jar being rather to further retract the armature than to move it up to its magnet. The drops may be restored by any suitable or usual mechanism,shownin this instance as a rod, 2', connected with a erank,i, turning on the rock-shaft i, near the lower part of the annunciator-case, said rock-shaft being provided with a finger, i, engaged by the stem ofa push-button, i, projecting from the front of the case. The rod 5 works in a guide, 1, near the top of the case, and is provided with lateralrods or fingers i", projecting under the supporting-arms d of the drops, so that when the push button i is pressed inward the rod 11 is raised and will engage and raise any of the drops that may have fallen.

I claim- 1. The combination ofthe magnet and armature pivoted below it, and provided with a drop-supporting shoulder and a stop projection, with the drop at the front of the magnet and armature, provided with supporting-arms pivoted at the rear ofthe magnet, the said drop co-operating with the said stop projection on the armature,acti ng on the same when dropped, with a tendency to move the armature away from the magnet, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the base-piece a, provided with lugs a, with the magnet at the upper part ofsaid base, the armature having a downwardly and rearwardly extending shank piv' oted in said lugs and extending beyond the pivot toconstitute a stop for the retractive movement of the armature,and the drop co-operating with said armatu re,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JACOB P. TIRRELL.

\Vitnesscs:

J os. P. LIVERMORE, ANNIE J. Looms. 

